Designer Brands

Designer Brands Inc. operates as a significant designer, producer, and retailer of footwear and accessories across North America. The company's history began in 1969 with the founding of Shonac Corporation by Harry Kanfer in partnership with the Schottenstein family and others. Initially, Shonac managed leased shoe departments for retailers like Value City. A pivotal moment occurred in July 1991 when the first DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) store opened in Dublin, Ohio, introducing a new retail concept. DSW Inc. became a publicly traded company in 2005. In a strategic move to reflect its evolving business model, DSW Inc. rebranded to Designer Brands in March 2019.

The company's business model is multifaceted, combining an omni-channel retail strategy with a growing emphasis on its own portfolio of brands. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer sales at its retail stores and e-commerce platforms, as well as through wholesale channels. The business operates several retail banners, including DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse in the U.S. and The Shoe Company in Canada. It serves a broad customer base of fashion-conscious consumers looking for a range of dress, casual, and athletic footwear for women, men, and kids. The company utilizes a robust loyalty program to encourage repeat business and enhance customer retention.

A significant strategic shift occurred in 2018 with the acquisition of the Camuto Group, a product design and brand development organization. This acquisition transformed Designer Brands into a major player with in-house design, sourcing, and production capabilities. This vertical integration allows the company to develop and grow its "owned brands," which it defines as brands it has the rights to sell through ownership or license arrangements. This portfolio includes brands like Vince Camuto, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Keds, and Hush Puppies. The strategy aims to increase the sales penetration of these exclusive brands across its retail channels to improve margins and differentiate its product offerings. The company has a stated goal of doubling the sales from its owned brands to constitute nearly one-third of its revenue by fiscal year 2026.

Keywords: footwear retailer, accessories, designer shoes, brand development, omni-channel retail, DSW, The Shoe Company, Camuto Group, Vince Camuto, private label footwear, fashion accessories, shoe manufacturing, retail licensing, direct-to-consumer, e-commerce footwear, brand portfolio management, wholesale footwear, North American retail, fashion-conscious consumers, loyalty programs, shoe sourcing, supply chain management, retail acquisitions, public company (DBI)